Steal the enemy's base at the start and build a technological empire.

Chapter 316 Silicon Valley Holiday

The plane landed at 3 p.m. (US time).

San Francisco International Airport.

Stepping out of the cabin, An Shiyu took a deep breath. "Have we arrived?" she asked.

"arrive."

After collecting her luggage and stepping out of the arrival hall, the sun shone brightly in her face. The California sun in July was intense, making it hard to open her eyes. An Shiyu squinted and shielded her forehead with her hand.

"It's so sunny," she said.

Ling Yun stood beside her, watching the crowd of people waiting to pick her up at the airport.

A woman in a black suit walked over. She was around thirty years old, with short hair, sharp eyes, and a brisk walk. She stopped in front of Ling Yun.

"President Ling." She extended her hand. "I'm Lin Xiaonan. Zhao Hu sent me."

Ling Yun shook hands.

"This is An Shiyu, my wife," he introduced.

Lin Xiaonan turned to An Shiyu and nodded. "Miss An."

"Hello, Sister Lin..." An Shiyu said nervously.

Lin Xiaonan smiled and said, "Just call me Xiaonan."

She took the suitcase from Lingyun and turned to walk out.

An Shiyu followed behind her, glancing at Ling Yun. Ling Yun didn't say anything, but simply took her hand and followed.

A black minivan was parked in the parking lot. Lin Xiaonan opened the trunk and put her luggage inside.

"Get in the car." Lin Xiaonan opened the back door.

The car drove out of the airport and merged onto the highway. Outside the window was the California landscape: blue sky, low mountains, sparse buildings, and the occasional palm tree. An Shiyu was pressed against the car window, gazing intently.

"There are so few people here," she said.

"Um."

"The houses are also short."

"Um."

"The air is very dry."

"Um."

She asked a question, and Ling Yun answered it. Lin Xiaonan glanced at them in the rearview mirror but didn't say anything.

The car entered Palo Alto. The streets narrowed, lined with low-rise buildings and residential areas. Cafes, bookstores, and small supermarkets were all quiet.

"Is this Silicon Valley?" An Shiyu asked.

"Um."

"It's not what I expected."

"What are you thinking?"

"High-rise buildings, glass curtain walls, lots and lots of people," she said. "Like Central."

"Compared to China, the United States is relatively sparsely populated."

The car stopped in front of a two-story building. This was the apartment Lingyun had rented in advance; it wasn't far from the company, within walking distance.

Lin Xiaonan carried her luggage inside. The house wasn't big, but it was very clean. There was a living room, a kitchen, and two bedrooms, all furnished. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a small courtyard with several lemon trees.

An Shiyu stood in the courtyard, looking at the lemon trees. The trees were laden with fruit, greenish-yellow, not yet fully ripe.

"Is this a lemon?" she asked.

"Um."

"Can I pick them?"

"able."

She reached out and picked one, then brought it to her nose and smelled it. It had a slightly sour, refreshing fragrance.

Lin Xiaonan stood at the door, watching this scene unfold.

"Mr. Ling," she said, "I live in the building next door. Call me anytime if you need anything."

"it is good."

Lin Xiaonan nodded and left.

An Shiyu returned from the yard, still holding the lemon in her hand.

"Does she live next door?" she asked.

"Um."

"Will you stay here permanently?"

"Yes. Zhao Hu recommended him; he's a veteran, very reliable."

An Shiyu nodded. She placed the lemon on the coffee table and looked around.

"Is this where you live in America?" she asked.

"No. I live in an apartment, and it's too small there."

"Where is this place?"

"It's newly rented," Lingyun said. "It's for you to live in."

An Shiyu looked at him without saying anything.

The next day, July 21th.

At nine o'clock in the morning, Lingyun went to the company.

The Xingchen Technology office building wasn't far, a ten-minute walk. An Shiyu wanted to go with them, but Ling Yun told her not to and to rest at home. She insisted on going.

Lin Xiaonan stayed with them.

The office building wasn't large, only five stories, with a glass curtain wall. The receptionist saw Ling Yun and stood up to greet him. As they passed through the office area, several employees looked up, their gazes sweeping over An Shiyu before quickly lowering again.

An Shiyu was a little nervous and gripped Ling Yun's hand tightly.

Carly and David were already waiting in the conference room. Carly had lost a little weight, and David had gotten a little darker. They both paused for a moment when they saw An Shiyu.

"Hello, sister-in-law," Carly said first.

An Shiyu blushed slightly. "Y-you...hello."

David nodded.

Ling Yun sat down, and An Shiyu sat next to him. Lin Xiaonan stood outside the door and did not come in.

"Let's begin," Ling Yun said.

The meeting lasted two hours. European data centers, Middle East localization, development plans for the new version of Xingyu, financial arrangements following the financing… documents were handed to him one by one, and Ling Yun signed them one by one. He read the documents quickly, signed even faster, occasionally asking a question or two, and nodding after listening.

An Shiyu sat beside her, looking at the documents and listening to the words she didn't understand, without saying a word.

After signing the last document, Lingyun closed the pen cap.

"That's all?" he asked.

"That's all," Carly said.

"Then you guys keep an eye on things from here on out."

"clear."

Stepping out of the conference room, An Shiyu breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Are you tired?" Ling Yun asked.

"I'm not tired," she said, "just a little nervous."

"What's there to be nervous about?"

"They're all your colleagues," she said, "I'm afraid I'll embarrass you."

Ling Yun looked at her.

"No," he said.

In the afternoon, they went shopping.

Stanford Shopping Center is not far from Palo Alto. An Shiyu stood at the mall entrance, her eyes lighting up as she looked at the shop signs.

"Can I go shopping?" she asked.

"Can."

She pulled Lingyun inside.

This shopping trip lasted three hours. An Shiyu went into every store, looked at every piece of clothing, and then tried them on, asking Ling Yun if they looked good. Ling Yun followed behind, carrying more and more bags.

Lin Xiaonan followed a few steps behind, neither too close nor too far.

"Does this look good?" An Shiyu asked, holding up a white dress.

"nice."

"What about this one?" Another blue one.

"It looks good too."

Which one looks better?

Ling Yun examined it carefully. "White."

She held the two items up and down for a long time before finally buying both.

It was already dark when she left the mall. An Shiyu held a cup of milk tea in her hand, which she had bought at the mall. The taste was a little different from the one in Hong Kong, but she drank it happily.

"Where are we going tomorrow?" she asked.

"Where do you want to go?"

She thought for a moment. "The Golden Gate Bridge? Fisherman's Wharf? Those places mentioned in the book."

"it is good."

The Golden Gate Bridge, July 22.

The bridge was bright red, standing out vividly against the blue sky. An Shiyu stood on the viewing platform at the bridgehead, watching the cars coming and going, looking at the distant bay, and watching the mist slowly drift in from the sea.

"It looks really good," she said.

Lingyun stood beside her; a breeze blew by, making it a little chilly.

"Are you cold?" he asked.

"It's not cold."

But her hands were cold. Lingyun took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

She smiled but didn't say anything.

In the afternoon, at Fisherman's Wharf.

The sea lions huddled together on the wooden planks, basking in the sun, occasionally letting out a cry. An Shiyu stood by the railing, watching them, and smiled happily.

"What are they doing?" she asked.

"sleep."

Why are you all huddled together?

"warm."

She nodded and continued reading. She read for a long time.

July 23, Carmel-by-the-Sea.

It was a quiet seaside town, with beautiful houses, flowers, and trees. An Shiyu walked down the street, looking at the little shops, going into each one to take a look. Shops selling paintings, porcelain, candles, and soap. She looked slowly, but she looked at everything.

In a gallery, she stood in front of a painting for a long time. It depicted the sea, blue, green, and white, with thick layers of paint, like ocean waves.

On July 24, we returned to Palo Alto.

The following days were the same. Lingyun would handle some work in the morning and take An Shiyu out for a stroll in the afternoon. Stanford campus, Silicon Valley tech companies, Napa Valley wineries, the 17-Mile Drive... everything was new and exciting to her, everything she ate was enjoyable, and she always smiled when taking pictures.

Lin Xiaonan followed her closely, neither too close nor too far. Sometimes An Shiyu would talk to her, asking about her time in the army, and she would give a few brief answers, not saying much more.

September 7, evening.

They sat in the yard, looking at the lemon tree. The setting sun dyed the sky orange-red, and the lemon leaves were gilded with a golden light.

An Shiyu leaned on his shoulder, holding half a lemon in her hand—she had picked it that afternoon, cut it open, and soaked it in water to drink.

"I've had a really great time these past few days," she said.

"It's like a dream," she continued. "In America, being with you, I don't have to think about anything."

Ling Yun looked at her.

"Can we do this again in the future?" she asked.

"Of course I can. No job is more important than you." Ling Yun's answer was without the slightest hesitation.